The 1970s have yielded many situations in which psychiatrists have been summoned by agents of the state for help in resolving terrorist-related crises. This paper tries to examine the evolving role of forensic psychiatrists as they participate in such situations and reviews some of the functions involved in open community/terrorist confrontations, closed community/terrorist confrontations, and psychiatrist/terrorist relations. Positive contributions have been made by psychiatrists, but there is a lack of available information to assist them in fulfilling their tasks. Specific recommendations are made that may be of benefit to the psychiatrist.